Page 65 - SAMENA Trends - May-June 2022
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REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS
With 41% Increase in 5G Towers, CITC Announced Full ICT Readiness to Serve
Hajj Pilgrims
Saudi Arabia’s digital regulator, the
Communications & Information Technology
Commission (CITC), has announced that
communications and ICT infrastructure in
Makkah and Medina are fully operational
and running to the highest standards
ahead of this year’s Hajj and Umrah. With
a million worshippers expected to make
the pilgrimage this year, the Commission
has done everything to ensure that digital
infrastructure in and around Makkah and
Medina are ready to connect pilgrims with
millions of loved ones around the world.
CITC has ensured the smooth functioning
of more than 5,900 towers and more than
11,000 Wifi access points in the Two Holy
Cities. It has also overseen a 41% increase
in 5G towers to reach more than 2,600
5G towers. “The Kingdom’s infrastructure
readiness will not only help smooth the
passage of fulfilling a lifelong dream,”
said Dr. Mohammed bin Saud Al-Tamimi,
“it will significantly enhance their digital
experience.” With some of the fastest
mobile download speeds on the planet
(203 Mbit/s in Makkah and 223 Mbit/s in
Madinah), this year’s pilgrims will have
an unprecedented experience. The first
overseas worshippers to make the Hajj
since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic,
this year’s worshippers will benefit from
the fastest connections the Two Holy
Sites have ever had. “With worshippers
traveling to Saudi Arabia from every part
of the planet, we are ensuring that this
year’s pilgrims have the most innovative
and interactive Hajj experience in history,”
Governor Al-Tamimi said. “That’s why the
ability to seamlessly communicate this life-
changing experience is so important.”
Hajj Pilgrims Consumed 36,000 TB of Data, Equivalent to Watching 14.83
Million Hours of 1080p HD Video Clips
The governor of Saudi Arabia’s digital season. Speaking on behalf of all CITC were key to ensuring this year’s pilgrims
regulator, the Communications and employees, Mohammed Al-Tamimi also had the best internet and connectivity
Information Technology Commission, has extended his congratulations to the Minister support and services available. “There
congratulated King Salman and Crown of Communications and Information is no way we could have achieved such
Prince Mohammed bin Salman on the Technology and CITC Chairman, Abdullah a feat of communications without the
conclusion of another successful Hajj bin Amer Al-Swaha, saying that his efforts robust cooperation of various levels of
65 MAY-JUNE 2022
